Swiss Life keeps targets despite coronavirus epidemic

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss Life (SLHN.S) maintained its 2021 targets on Tuesday, saying its business model could weather the impact of the new coronavirus epidemic.

FILE PHOTO: The logo of insurer Swiss Life is seen on the roof of its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd WIegmann

Its fee income rose 11% in local currency to 453 million Swiss francs ($465.7 million), while premiums fell by a fifth to 7.82 billion francs.

It had flagged a drop was coming after a spike a year ago when a competitor withdrew from business in Switzerland.

“The main effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for Swiss Life arise from the turmoil on the financial markets. In the 2020

financial year, this impacts fee business and also insurance business through investment income and the net investment result,” it said.

Swiss Life manages the effects on its insurance business via asset liability processes, and said it has protected its interest rate margin for more than three decades, even in the current volatile environment.

“Due to the balanced portfolio of mortality and longevity risks, the risks in the Swiss Life insurance book are also

manageable. Swiss Life’s business model is sustainable and diversified. The company thus confirms its financial targets under the “Swiss Life 2021” group-wide programme,” it said.

Its shares rose 0.5% by midday, outperforming the European sector .SXIP.

“COVID-19 is having a negative impact on Swiss Life primarily on the investment side, as we had expected. The insurance business will remain robust, which is why the targets in the 2021 business plan were confirmed,” ZKB analysts said.

In February the company increased its dividend by more than a fifth to 20 Swiss francs a share and unveiled a share buyback worth up to 400 million Swiss francs as it reported a 12% rise in 2019 net profit.

In March it suspended the buyback, as did other Swiss financial groups, after officials asked them to conserve capital during the coronavirus epidemic.